Apparatus for removing liquids from annular wound packages



June 12, 1956 F. F. LONG 2,750,039

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING LIQUIDS FROM ANNULAR WOUND PACKAGES Original Filed Aug. 3, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN T OR. FREDERICK FARWELL LONG I ATTORNEY.

June 12, 1956 LONG APPARATUS FOR REMOVING LIQUIDS FROM ANNULAR WOUND PACKAGES Original Filed Aug. 3. 1949 I. LE

s 8/ .N mo ML w M a F 9 m R o E m I R r 3 w a P 8 H- M l 6 z m 8 a BV/ [HM 7 -8 ATTORNE APPARATUS FOR REMOVING LIQUIDS FROM ANNULAR WOUND PACKAGES Frederick Farwell Long, Chester, Pa., assiguor to American Viscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Original application August 3, 1949, Serial No. 108,364. Divided and this application May 14, 1953, Serial No. 355,135

11 Claims. Cl. 210-71 This invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing liquids from annular wound packages, and particularly of wet cakes of rayon of regenerated cellulose as they leave the usual liquid processing treatments in the conventional system for spinning artificial filaments. This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 108,364, filed August 3, 1949, now abandoned.

During the drying of wet regenerated cellulose cakes by the passage of circulating air currents thereabout, the outer windings are generally dehydrated first and during such dehydration, they tend to shrink but this shrinkage is opposed by the still unshrunk inner windings. The result is that when the drying of such cakes is completed, the windings thereof have undergone diiferent shrinkages and shrinkage strains depending upon the portion of the cake in which they are located during the drying. The final cake shows these different strains by differences in residual shrinkage and in dyeing capacity or receptivity. Various sys tems have been proposed for overcoming the disadvantages resulting from the drying of rayon cakes in this fashion. One of the systems which has shown the greatest promise has been to place an impermeable sleeve of rubber or slowly permeable wrapper of cellophane or especially prepared paper about the outer windings of the cake in order to slow down the drying of the outer windings and permit the drying to proceed from the inside to the outside. However, this procedure necessitates two extra steps of handling the cake, namely to place the sleeve about it and thereafter to remove the sleeve. Such handling operations present opportunities for damage to the cake, particularly tending to reduce its unwindability by displacement of the windings thereof from their original disposition.

in accordance with the present invention, a system is provided for the removal of liquids from wet rayon cakes by a preliminary step of centrifuging a radially compressed cake and subsequently completing the drying thereof by the circulation of hot air currents therethrough. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and the description thereof hereinafter.

in the drawing, Figure l is a vertical section through a machine embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 11-11 of Figure 3 through a portion of the embodiment of Figure 1 in advance of the plane at which the section of Figure is taken, p

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a portion of the embodiment of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the buckets,

Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified form of bucket, and

Figure 6 is a side elevation diagrammatically showing a modified ejecting and retracting means.

In accordance with the present invention, a cake of rayon which has been through the usual wet treatment process is compressed radially such as by being placed between a plurality of generally axially extending shoes spaced apart circumferentially about the cake; These States Patent 2,750,039 Patented June 12, 1956 shoes preferably have a large broad area bearing against the cake as they are not intended to impart any particular crinkle to the yarns in the windings thereof. These shoes compress the cake radially inwardly while intervening peripheral areas of the cake which are not engaged by the shoes are prevented from radial expansion. The extent of compression may vary considerably but it is found that it should be sufficient to reduce the actual circumference of the cake windings by about to While thus compressed, the cake is subjected to dehydration. Preferably, the cake is centrifuged in this compressed condition and the centrifuging serves to set the cake in a compressed condition sufficiently to allow removal of the compressing shoes before the subsequent drying by means of circulating hot air currents which is hereinafter referred to simply as air convection drying.

The compression of the cake throughout its thickness and retention of the compressed condition during centrifuging is an important characteristic of the process as it prevents straining or stretching of the yarns under centrifugal force. It also allows the use of higher speeds of rotation during centrifuging such as 10,000 to 15,000 R. P. M., thereby lowering the moisture content of the cakes mechanically and reducing the time and equipment needed for final drying by air convection, without producing yarn of poor quality because of variation in strain, residual shrinkage, and dye receptivity.

The drawing illustrates a form of apparatus adapted to execute the preliminary centrifuging and compressing of the cake. Of the numerals on the drawings, 10 indicates an approximately circular stationary frame of pedestal character; 12 is an annular bearing race mounted on the frame; 13 are bearings operated in the race; 14 are supports surrounding the pedestal; 15 is a ring-shaped housing carried by supports 14; 15 is a cover forming a removable part of housing 15; 16 is an annular opening extending completely around a base of the housing; 20 is a turntable mounted on bearings 13; 21 is an annular ring removably mounted as by bolts 22 on turntable 20; 23 are rack teeth on the ring 21; is a motor, which may conveniently be of electric or other type, mounted on base 10; 32 is a speed-reduction gear; 33 and 34 are gears connecting the motor with the speed-reduction gear; 35 is a pinion driven by the motor through the speed-reduction gear enmesh with annular rack 23; 36 is a switch for starting or stopping the motor 30; 40 are bus bars mounted on the base of the machine; 41 are the power supply for the bus bars; 42 are motors mounted on the turntable; 43 are supports depending from the turntable below each motor; 44 are contacts mounted on supports 43 for contacting with the bus bars and supplying power to the motors 42; are hollow rotatable spindles projecting from and driven by the motors within the housing 15; 51 are rotatable buckets which may be perforated in conventional manner and are mounted, within housing 15, on spindles 50; 53 in Figure 1 is a cake of thread, such as regenerated cellulose thread, which has been produced by the bucket spinning process; are brake drums mounted on each motor spindle; 61 is a brake for contact with the brake drum; 62 is a collar adjustably mounted on standard 14; 63 is a curved bar, L-shaped in cross-section, removably mounted on collars 62; 64 are studs projecting from the brake 61 through the member 63; 65 are springs between brake 61 and member 63; is a drainpipe.

' .The apparatus as so described corresponds to that of U. S. Patent 1,986,434. In this apparatus, the centrifuges proceed in a circuitous path past a loading (and unloading) station along which the cover 15' is cut away as shown in Figure 2. The brake 61 is disposed just prior to .the loading section so that the centrifuges are stopped. as they pass through this station@ At the first v portion ofthe loading station, meansis provided for ejecting the cake previously centrifuged and just after this position, retracting means is provided for reintroducing the cake into the centrifuge while compressing it. The ejecting means and the retracting means are operated in timed relation 'to the passage of the buckets, such as by means of a gear train from an annular rack gear secured beneath the turntable. The ejecting means may take any of various forms, such as those of U. S. Patents 2,367,338; 2,367,339; and 2,383,240. As shown, it com prises a reciprocable cake-supporting device comprising a platform or web 75. This platform or web is somewhat smaller than the inside diameter of the centrifuge bucket 51 and near its outer periphery it carries a plurality of shoes 76 which may be in the form of segments of a cylinder. The shoes are spaced apart circumferentially of the wall of the bucket 51, as shown, and are hingedly mounted at 77 to permit them to swing outwardly when the cake-supporting platform is in the cakeejecting position shown. in Figure 2. The shoes extend the full height of the cake and may have either fiat inside faces as shown in Figure 4 or curved faces such as the convexly curved faces shown in Figure 5. The shoes may be provided in any number, though preferably three or four are used. An extremely large number such as over six is generally undesirable because of the tendency to produce local areas in which windings are severely crushed by too great a concentration of pressure.

The platform is secured to a shaft 78 which extends through the hollow spindle 59 and is relatively rotatable as well as reciprocable with respect thereto. The upper rim of the bucket 51 ispreferably rounded off, tapered, or sloped as shown at 79 in order to provide a smooth camrning action upon the shoes as the cake-supporting system is retracted into the bucket. The outer diameter of the shoe assembly is just slightly less than the inside diameter of the bucket so that it fits tightly therein and causes the cake-supporting device to rotate along with the bucket, yet is readily slidable with respect thereto. The shaft 78 has secured to its lower end a member or plate 80, preferably in the form of a disc so that it develops the least windage or air resistance during rotation. This disc 80 is disposed below' the fittings which hold the motor 42 upon the turntable a distance which is at. least equal to the depth of the spinning bucket 51 as measured from the top of the web 75 when in its lower position in the bucket.

After the bucket has been-stopped by the brake, it is carried by the turntable into the ejecting position which is provided with a rotating' lever 81 fixedly secured to a shaft 82 extending between bearings 83 and 84 in the frame. Shaft 82 may be driven by a gear train deriving motion from the turntable, such as from an annular rack gear secured beneath the turntable, either inside or outside the pedestal. The shaft 82 may also be independently driven, but in proper synchronism with the turntable. Thus, as shown, the shaft 82 is provided with a pulley 85 or equivalent drive means, such as a sprocket, driven by a belt 86, chain or the like. A motor 87 drives a shaft 88' to which is secured a pulley or sprocket 89' for driving the belt 86 or the like. The axis of shaft 82 is just below the plane'normally occupied by the discs 80 when in the lowest position. As shown in Figure 3, as a disc 80 proceeding in the direction of the arrow A moves into position within the throw of lever 81, this lever which, is continuoutly rotated at constant speed, swings in a direction of arrow B into the dotted line position of roll 87. This is a quarter revolution of the lever 81 from its solid line position shown in Figure 3. During this quarter revolution, the roll 87 in the upper position swings downwardly from the previously elevated disc 80. This disc is held in its elevated position by the guide rail 88 supported on brackets 89. While the centrifuge is in the position such that its plate 80 travels between positions C and D, an operator: removes the previously centrifuged cake and there is adequate time for the reintroduction of a fresh wet cake onto the platform 75 while.- the shoes 76 are inclined outwardly as shown in Figure 2. After the disc passes beyond the guide rafl 88, it falls into the path of one of the rollers 90 of a lever 91 which is similar to lever 81 (being driven in synchronism with the turntable such as by a gear train from an annular rack gear secured to the bottom of the turntable either outside or inside the pedestal), and is fixedly mounted on shaft 92, carried in a bearing 93, and driven by a motor 94 and suitable means such as a belt 95 and pulleys 96 and 97, respectively. The lever 91 rotates in the opposite direction to that of lever 81 and swings the disc 89 into its lowermost position as shown in solid lines in Figure 3. This corresponds to the position of the foremost disc 80 shown in Figure 2 (the shaft 78 being cut away and the motor and centrifuge associated with this foremost disc being removed to show the next centrifuge assembly in ejecting position). The downward swinging of lever 91 in forcing disc 80 into its lowermost position, causes the supporting platform 75 with its shoes. 76 to be retracted into the centrifuge bucket with the sloped rim 79 swinging the shoes 76' into engagement with the cake previously placed thereon by the operator and compressing the same to the desired extent. As the centrifuge. thus loaded proceeds into the next portion of its circuitous path, its motor 42 is connected to the line 41 through the bus bars 4!! and contacts 44, this connection being shown in the right-hand portion of Figure 1.

It will be noted that in the ejecting and retracting means, the length of throw of levers 81 and 91 is equal to onehalf the distance between centers of the centrifuges and that this length of throw corresponds to the depth of the bucket as measured from the top of the platform 75. Longer levers may be used to eject the cake further from the bucket if desired. In any event, the speeds of rotation of levers 81' and 91 are synchronized so that the time required for one-half a revolution of such levers corresponds to the time required for a centrifuge to move the distance between centers thereof.

In situations where a'longer portion of the circuitous path may be devoted to the unloading and loading positions, the ejecting and retracting means maybe replaced by simple cam tracks such as shown in Figure 6. The ejecting track 98 is a gradually rising guideway overwhich the discs 89 moving in the direction of the arrow E are caused to rise. The retractingv guide track 99 starts from a point somewhat higher than the discs 80 in their most elevated position and terminates just below their lowermost position, whereas the ejecting track starts at a point just below their uppermost positions.-

After the rayon cakes have been centrifuged to remove as much of the excess water as possible, they are taken, in compressed condition in which they are set by the centrifuging, into a tunnel dryer or any other drying system to complete the drying, such as by convection air currents. If desired, heat may be derived from infra-red ray lamps or high frequency electrostatic fields instead of or inaddition to convection currents of hot air. However, it has been found that when preliminarily compressed and centrifuged cakes have been finally subjected to drying by ordinary convection air currents, such as in the conventional tunnel dryer most commonly used in the art, the final product is so. greatly improved with respect to uni formity of residual shrinkage and freedom from strain throughout the windings. of the individual cakes and from cake to cake, that such special drying systems as require the use of high frequency electrostatic fields for-internal heating of the rayon are unnecessary. Fabrics-formed from the dried rayon yarns obtained in accordance with the present invention exhibit also a great improvement in uniformity of dyeing, almost if not quite as good as could be obtained by the moreexpensive drying procedures utilizinghigh frequency electrostatic fields.

It is to. be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in theappendcd claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating wound packages including a plurality of individual centrifugal buckets, package-supporting means associated with each of said buckets, means for moving said plurality of buckets in a circuitous path from a loading position to an unloading position, means for rotating each of said buckets concomitantly with their movement along said circuitous path, means for sequentially stopping rotation of each of said buckets as they approach said unloading position, means adjacent to said unloading position for elevating each of said package-supporting means as said buckets each move into said unloading position, and means for retracting each of said package-supporting means from its elevated position as said buckets each leave said loading position.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said package-supporting means includes a platform and a plurality of elements each of which is hingedly mounted at one end to the periphery of said platform in spaced relationship to each other, said elements being adapted to engage with the package and compress the same when said platform is in its retracted position, and being swingable outwardly as said platform is in its elevated position to permit removal of the package.

3. A construction as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said buckets has an open end defined by a rim and a package-supporting means is positioned within each of said buckets for elevating and retracting movement relative to said rim, said rim being tapered upwardly and outwardly of said bucket for camming said elements inwardly as said platform is retracted.

4. Apparatus for treating wound packages including a plurality of centrifugal buckets having an open upper end, package-supporting means associated with each of said buckets, means for moving said plurality of buckets in a circuitous path from a loading position to an unloading position, means for rotating each of said buckets concomitantly with their movement along said circuitous path, means for sequentially stopping rotation of each of said buckets as they approach said unloading position, said package-supporting means each including a platform and a shaft slidably mounted for elevating and retracting said platform out of and into its respective bucket, means adjacent to said unloading position for sequentially elevating each said platforms as said buckets move into said unloading position, and means for sequentially retracting said platforms as said buckets each leave said loading position.

5. A construction as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for elevating each of said platforms includes a disc fixed to said shaft, and a cam track positioned to be engaged by said discs as said buckets approach and move into said unloading position.

6. A construction as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for retracting each of said platforms includes a disc fixed to said shaft, and a cam track positioned to be engaged by said discs as said buckets move out of said loading position.

7. A construction as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for elevating said platforms includes a disc fixed to each of said shafts, and a rotatable lever positioned adjacent the unloading position and arranged to sequentially swing upwardly under the discs to elevate the packagesupporting means, said rotatable movement of said lever being synchronized with the movement of said buckets along their circuitous path.

8. A construction as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for retracting said platforms includes a disc fixed to each of said shafts, and a rotatable lever positioned adjacent the loading position and arranged to sequentially swing downwardly over the discs to retract the package supporting means, said rotatable movement of said lever being synchronized with the movement of said buckets along their circuitous path.

9. In an apparatus having a rotatable bucket movable along a circuitous path for centrifugally treating a wound package, a package-supporting means associated with the bucket including a platform and a plurality of elements, each of said elements being hingedly mounted at one end to the periphery of said platform in spaced relationship to each other, means for retracting said package supporting means into the bucket and cause said elements to swing inwardly into engagement with a package, and means for elevating said package-supporting means relative to the bucket, said elements being swingable outwardly as said platform is moved to its elevated position to permit removal of the package.

10. Apparatus for treating a wound package including a rotatable centrifugal bucket, package-supporting means in said bucket, means for elevating said package-supporting means relative to said bucket and means separate from said elevating means for retracting said package-supporting means into said bucket from its elevated position.

11. A construction as defined in claim 10 wherein said package-supporting means includes a platform and a plurality of shoes hingedly mounted at one end to the periphcry of said platform in spaced relationship to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,246,035 Bair Nov. 13, 1917 1,367,893 Rittenhouse Feb. 8, 1921 1,410,146 Von May Mar. 21, 1922 1,844,009 Hasbrouck Feb. 9, 1932 1,986,434 Harrison et al. Jan. 1, 1935 2,195,123 Pabst Mar. 26, 1940 2,609,100 Vitale Sept. 2, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 188,243 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1922 

1. APPARATUS FOR TREATING WOUND PACKAGES INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL CENTRIFUGAL BUCKETS, PACKAGE-SUPPORTING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID BUCKETS, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PLURALITY OF BUCKETS IN A CIRCUITOUS PATH FROM A LOADING POSITION TO AN UNLOADING POSITION, MEANS FOR ROTATING EACH OF SAID BUCKETS CONCOMITANTLY WITH THEIR MOVEMENT ALONG SAID CIRCUITOUS PATH, MEANS FOR SEQUENTIALLY STOPPING ROTATION OF EACH OF SAID BUCKETS AS THEY APPROACH SAID UNLOADING POSITION, MEANS ADJACENT TO SAID UNLOADING POSITION FOR ELEVATING EACH OF SAID PACKAGE-SUPPORTING MEANS AS SAID BUCKETS EACH MOVE INTO SAID UNLOADING POSITION, AND MEANS FOR RETRACTING EACH OF SAID PACKAGE-SUPPORTING MEANS FROM ITS ELEVATED POSITION AS SAID BUCKETS EACH LEAVE SAID LOADING POSITION. 